Bonneville Power Administration The People Behind the Power

1. Bonneville Power AdministrationThe People Behind the Power

2. What is BPA? BPA is a Federal agency headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that markets wholesale electricity and transmission to the Pacific Northwest’s public and private utilities as well as to some large industries. BPA provides about half the electricity used in theNorthwest and operates over three-fourths of the region’s high-voltage transmission

3. About BPA Congress and the Roosevelt Administration created BPA in 1937, just before completion of Bonneville and Grand Coulee dams in 1938 and 1941. BPA began building transmission lines in the 1930s. Major construction from the 1940s through the 1960s created networks and loops of high-voltage wire touching most parts of BPA’s service territory. Today, BPA markets the power generated at 31 federal dams, one nonfederal nuclear plant at Hanford, Wash., and some nonfederal power plants, such as wind projects. The system now includes more than 15,000 miles of line and 300 substations.

4. Balancing a River Protecting Fish and Wildlife: BPA helps fund & manage the largest fish & wildlife program in the world including repairing spawning habitats, studying fish diseases & controlling predators. Conservation and Re-newable Energy: BPA invests in energy conservation through projects that encourage use of energy-efficient technologies as well as invests in new renewable generating resources such as wind and geothermal projects. River Usage: Ships and barges carry cargo to and from inland ports; water sports skim the river’s surface; hikers and sightseers enjoy the scenery, irrigators draw water for farming, and dams generate electricity, prevent floods, and control the rivers’ flow.

5. Bonna-World BPA’s service territory covers all of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and western Montana, as well as small contiguous portions of California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and eastern Montana. In addition to the transmission network within the Northwest, BPA operates large interregional transmission lines that connect to Canada, California, the Southwest and eastern Montana. BPA’s wholesale customers include public utilities, public utility districts, municipal districts, public cooperatives, some investor-owned utilities and a few large industries such as aluminum companies.

6. BPA Service Territory

7. Transmission Business Line Operations & Planning: • Analyze performance data & outage times • Analyze power system data • Manage real time data • Manage telecommunication networks • Maintain control center systems • Manage electrical power grid system parameters

8. Transmission Business Line • Engineering & Technical Services: • Power system control maintenance • Geo-technical services • Electrical, Civil, and Mechanical engineering and design • Technical field support • Testing, analysis, and calibration of control & protection equipment • Engineering support and services for control protection and data acquisition facilities

9. Transmission Business Line Field Services: Operations, Maintenance, Construction of BPA: • High-voltage electrical transmission system • Electrical and non-electrical plant facilities • System Protection Control and Metering Systems • Power Systems Control of BPA’s communication systems

10. Power Business Line Responsible for the sale of wholesale power to public utilities, private utilities and large industrial plants in the PNW. • Energy Efficiency • Generation Supply • Business Strategy & Assessment • Requirements Marketing • Bulk Marketing& Transmission Services

11. Power Business Line Mechanical Engineers & Public Utilities Specialists • Energy Management • Consultation and assessment of customer needs • Engineering work in fuel cells, alternative energy sources, and emerging technologies

12. Power Business Line Duty and Power Schedulers • Control reservoir operations • Sell or purchase energy • Acquire or re-market transmission • Modify interchange schedules Hydro Project Oversight • Dam operations and maintenance

13. What We Want… BPA is looking for motivated men and women who are interested in becoming: • Electrical Engineers • Civil Engineers • Mechanical Engineers

14. Electrical Engineer Sample Duties Assist Test and Energization in accomplishments of tasks and projects within Electrical Systems Spare Parts, High Voltage Equipment Engineering, Substation Maintenance, Laboratory Field Services, High Voltage Laboratories, and Chemical Laboratories. (GS-3) Assist in testing transmission lines including initial energization and high-voltage phasing or work with a variety of substation equipment including power circuit breakers, transformers, and static capacitors. (GS-5) Assist Senior and Project Engineers in the development of design packages including: layout sketches, material requests, bill of material, drawing lists, and project design plans. (GS-7)

15. 115kV Electric System

16. Civil Engineer Sample Duties Assist in work associated with Conductor, Structure, or Civil Design, or Transmission Project Engineering; assist with drawing and document preparation. (GS-3) Assist in applying transmission line design procedures to various types transmission projects. (GS-5) Assist Design and Project Engineers in the development of design packages to build transmission lines. A practical understanding of engineering principles, concepts, and methodology associated with transmission assignments is required. (GS-7)

17. 500kV Power Circuit Breaker & Disconnect Equipment

18. Mechanical Engineer Sample Duties Assist Conductor, Mechanical Design, or Specifications groups working with drawings and document preparation. (GS-3) Learn design procedures to build actual transmission lines or transmission facilities gaining knowledge of the hardware used to build transmission lines. (GS-5) Assist Design and Project Engineers in the development of design packages to build transmission lines and facilities. Duties may include all aspects of transmission design and assisting senior engineers with specific designs for transmission projects. (GS-7)

19. So Why BPA? BPA has always been a leader in the electrical community, and continues to play a big part in the Pacific Northwest’s environmental issues. BPA requires skilled and highly trained people, and we continually provide training to our employees keeping them on the leading edge in their field. BPA’s employees enjoy many benefits. Some are intangible, such as being a part of the Pacific Northwest’s continued development.

20. Equal Opportunity Employer Selections at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) are based on merit and are accomplished without regard to political, religious, or union affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or non-disqualifying physical disability; nor will such action be based upon any personal relationship, patronage, or nepotism.

21. BPA Safety Motto “ No job is so important and no service so urgent that we cannot take time to perform our work safely ”

22. At BPA Safety Is Priority BPA has an accident frequency rate that is half the national electrical industry rate!

23. Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) To be eligible you must be: • Enrolled as a degree- seeking student in an accredited technical school, 2 year college, or 4 year university; in a course of study leading to a degree related in electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering disciplines • A U.S. citizen and 16 years of age; • Taking at least a half-time course load as defined by the school; • A student in good standing with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA; • Be able to complete 640 hours of career-related work targeting permanent employment

24. SCEP Student Benefits • Health, Life Insurance, and Retirement benefits • Unlimited Sick Leave accrual (4 hrs per pay period) • “Family Friendly” Leave Programs • Flexible work schedule • Thrift Savings Plan (401K Plan) • Tuition assistance at management’s discretion. • BPA subsidized public transportation

25. Annual Leave An employee may use annual leave for vacations, rest and relaxation, and personal business or emergencies.  1-3 yrs: 4 hrs for every pay period 3-15 yrs: 6 hrs for every pay period Over 15 yrs: 8 hrs for every pay period Maximum annual carryover of 240 hours.

26. Federal Holidays New Year’s Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday President’s Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

27. 2009 Salary Rates Electrical & Electronic Engineers: Bachelor’s Degree (GS-5): $35,135 - $43,244 Bachelor’s Degree (GS-7): $43,521 - $53,565 with Superior Academic Achievement Master’s degree (GS-9): $53,234 - $65,519 Ph.D (GS-11): $57,799 - $77,097 Specialized Experience (GS-12): $71,087 - $92,409

28. 2009 Salary Rates Civil & Mechanical Engineers: Bachelor’s Degree (GS-5): $35,135 - $43,244 Bachelor’s Degree (GS-7): $43,521 - $53,565 with Superior Academic Achievement Master’s degree (GS-9): $53,234- $65,519 Ph.D (GS-11): $59,309 - $77,097 Specialized Experience (GS-12): $71,087 - $92,409

29. Resumes Please be sure to include the following information directly on your resume: • Cover Letter (tell us about yourself, interests, any leadership and/or team work training or opportunities) • Current overall GPA of current and former schoolings • Major of study and/or any future academic goals • Month and year of expected graduation date • Name of school(s) past and present • US citizenship status (must be US Citizens) • Month and year of your experience (paid employment, non-paid employment, volunteering, etc…) be detailed!!

30. Contact Information Bonneville Power Administration Human Resources: (877) 975-4272 E-mail your resume to: students@bpa.gov Visit our website at: www.jobs.bpa.gov For all Federal Job Postings visit: www.usajobs.opm.gov

31. Questions?